Apparatus for irrigation



SePt- 29, 1964 J. K. GRIFFITH 3,150,830

APPARATUS FOR IRRIGATION Filed Aug. 24, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l 'o 35@ vivVV INVENTOR JESSE KGzlFFlTH ATTORNEYS Sept. 29, 1964 Filed Aug. 24, 1952FIG. 3

J, K. GR

APPARATUS FOR IFFITH IRRIGATION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 i o2 57 Il no3 lATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,150,830 APPARATUS FR ERFGAHN .lessieK. Griihth, Stai' Rte. 2, Morton, Tex. Filed Aug. 24, 1962, Ser. No.2t9,l67 5 Claims. (Cl. Z39-19d) The present invention relates to a newand novel apparatus and method for irrigation, and more particularly toan irrigation system which is completely automatic in operation.

The present invention is particularly directed to the problem ofirrigating relatively large areas such as cultivated fields which maycover an area of many acres.

lt is a diiiicult problem to obtain uniform and thorough irrigation ofsuch large areas, and the present invention contemplates a means foradvancing one or more sprinklers in a certain manner over large areas soas to obtain the desired end results.

lt is a further purpose of the invention to provide an irrigation systemwhich is completely automatic in operation and which can be utilized forirrigating large areas without requiring the attention of any personnelduring the operation thereof thereby freeing such personnel for otherduties.

In order to cover the wide areas according to the present invention, anelongated ilexible hose is employed to which one or more sprinklers isconnected, and reel means is provided for winding up the hose. Aplurality of such hoses may be employed, where a large iield is to becovered, and in such a case the sprinklers attached to the various hosesmay be advanced substantially simultaneously along substantiallyparallel paths toward a central area.

In order to provide completely automatic operation, driving means isprovided for the reel, this driving means including a power driven meanswhich is controlled by means of an automatic timer, the timer serving toactuate the power driving means at predetermined intervals.

With the arrangement of the present invention, it is merely necessary totirst unwind the ilexible hoses to the desired extent to position thesprinkiers in their initial positions, whereupon actuation of the systemwill cause each of the sprinklers to be automatically advanced asdesired.

lt is evident that the automatic timer can be set so as to advance thesprinklers a predetermined distance each time the power driven means isactuated, and further to allow the sprinklers to remain in a givenlocation a sutlicient length of time so as to suitably saturate theground in the vicinity of the sprinklers.

A unique wheeled support means is provided for supporting andmaintaining the sprinklers in operative position such that thesprinklers will at all times operate in the most erlicient and effectivemanner so as to obtain optimum distribution ot water adjacent thereto.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and novelapparatus and method for irrigation which is completely automatic inoperation.

A further object oi" the invention is the provision of an apparatus andmethod for irrigation which is particularly suitable for irrigatinglarge areas.

A further object of the invention is to provide irrigation apparatuswhich is quite simple and inexpensive in construction and which is quiteetcient and reliable in operation.

Other objects and many attendant advantages of the invention will becomemore apparent when considered in connection with the specification andaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is a plan view of a portion of a field to be irrigatedillustrating the arrangement according to the present invention;

Patented Sept. 29, Nidal ICC FIG. 2 is a View partly in section andpartially broken away illustrating the reel means and the associatedwater Supply;

FlG. 3 is a plan view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 4 4 of FIG. 3looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the hydrauliccoupling means of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the wheeled support means for the waterdistribution means;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation of the support means shown in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a top view of the structure shown in FIG. 6.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views, there isshown a cultivated eld or similar area indicated generally by referencenumeral ld having a central portion indicated generally by referencenumeral il, it being understood that for the purpose of description,only substantially one-hair" of the area to` be irrigated is shown, theother half of the field having only the innermost portion i2 thereofillustrated, it being understood that the area of irrigation will extendsubstantially equally on either side of the central portion il of thefield.

An irrigation well is indicated by reference numeral 15, this irrigationwell being connected by means of a conduit i6 to an underground conduitl' which serves as a common supply for the various water distributiondevices hereinafter described. It will be understood that the eld mayextend a considerable distance in each direction from that shown, only alimited area being shown for the purpose of illustration.

As shown, live reel means indicated generally by reference numerals 2Gare illustrated, each of these reel means having the driving meansthereof as hereinafter described operatively connected with commonwiring indicated chematically by reference numeral 22 which in turn isconnected to a switch and timer mechanism indicated generally byreference numeral 2S, which is mounted on a suitable utility pole 26. Asillustrated, live of the reel mechanisms have been shown as all beingcontrolled by the same timer mechanism, this number being purelyarbitrary and it being understood that any number of reels may becontrolled by a single timer if desired.

lt will be noted that extending outwardly from each of the reelmechanisms 2@ is a hexible hose $50, each oi these hoses beinU shown ashaving connected thereto a pair ot sprinklers Si and 32, it being notedthat any number of sprinklers may be connected to the iiexible hose inaccordance with the requirements for any given situation.

Each of the sprinklers is supported and maintained in operative positionby means of a wheeled support means indicated generally by referencenumeral 35, the details of construction being hereinafter more fullydescribed.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the details of construction of each reelmechanism may be more clearly understood, it being clearly understoodthat the construction of each of the reel mechanisms is substantiallyidentical and accordingly, a description of one of the reel mechanismswill suffice for all.

The underground conduit 17 is connected with a riser dit which in turnsupplies water to a pipe 41 having a manually controllable Valve ft2connected therein. Pipe il leads into the interior of a filter unit 44,this filter unit having a body of sand lo therein and being providedwith a drain plug 47. A pipe 48 provides an outlet from the tilter meansfl-f and is connected with iiexible tubing Si?.

A frame for supporting the reel means includes a base member 5S which isadapted to rest upon the ground, this aisoeao base member supportingupwardly and inwardly extending support members 56 at one end thereofand 57 at the other end thereof, members 56 defining with the base atriangular configuration and supporting at their apexes a bearingsupport 60 for the reel means while members 57 similarly support abearing support means 61.

A bracket 64 extends laterally from members 57 and supports a stationaryelbow 65 to the lower end of which is connected exible tube 50. A pipeo6 is connected with the upper end of elbow 65 and as seen in FIG. 5,this pipe has an open end 67 which is disposed within the hollow centrallongitudinally extending conduit 70 of the reel means, conduit 7i) beingrotatably supported within bearing support members 6i) and 61 previouslydescribed.

It will be understood that pipe 67 is stationary while conduit means 7l)is rotatable and includes an inwardly extending annular iiange 7l. atthe outer end thereof which fits about pipe 67. A sleeve 72 is threadedon the threaded outer end of conduit portion 70 and a seal packing 73 isdisposed inwardly of sleeve 72. An adjusting nut 75 is threaded withinthe outer threaded end portion of sleeve 72 as shown, the adjusting nutserving to compress the packing 73 as required to ensure a duid-tightseal with the outer surface of pipe d'7 as will be well understood.

A reel means comprises a first plurality of radially extending spokemembers Sti and a second plurality of radially extending spoke members8l between which is mounted a cylindrical member 82, these spoke membersbeing suitably secured to conduit member 7th as by welding or the likewhile the cylindrical member 82 may be welded at the opposite endsthereof to the spoke members and 31. The spoke members 8@ and Sil extendradially outwardly of the cylindrical member S2 so as to prevent theiiexible hose wound on cylindrical member 82 from slipping olf the endsof the cylindrical member.

A radially extending conduit 85 has the inner end thereuf secured toconduit member 7@ and is in communicalion therewith for conducting thewater from conduit member 7d outwardly to the hose 30 which has one endthereof secured to the outer end of conduit S5.

The driving means for the reel means includes a motor 83 and a gearreducer 89 which are mounted on a suitable bracket secured to thesupport frame, gear reducer S9 in turn having a gear 92. secured to theoutput shaft Q3 thereof. A irst drive chain 95 drivingly connects gear92 with a gear 97 which is xed to a shaft 9? journalled in a supportmember i9 supported on bracket 9d.

A gear lil@ is also-fixed to shaft 98 and is connected through a drivingchain 102 with a gear 1.633 iixed to the outer end of the conduit member7i). it is apparent that driving motor 8S when actuated will serve torotate the reel means at a predetermined rate.

The wiring indicated schematically by reference numeral 22 in'FIG. lincludes a pair of wires N5 and lilo which are connected to a timerlli?. This timer may be of conventional construction and preferablycomprises an adjustable automatic time clock which can be set so as toenergize and cle-energize the motor at predetermined time intervals.

Thistimer il@ is in turn connected by a pair of wires 112 and 113 to aswitch box lleihaving a handle M5 which is adapted to connect anddisconnect the apparatus in a-power supply line. As shown, it iscontemplated thatA.C. current will be available for operating theelectric A.C. motor 38. If such isV not available, however, a DE. motormay be utilized in combination with a portable DC.

generator. l

Referring now to FiGS. 6 8, it will be seen that flexible hoses Sil'maybe provided with a cap l2@ which is secured to the `outery end thereof.A iitting` lZl isV connected in v hose 3G, this litting supporting ariser 32 having'a sprinkler of conventional construction secured to theupperV end thereof, this sprinkler preferably being of the type j whichVautomatically rotates under the iniluence ofwater pressure passingtherethrough in a well-understood pecially suitable for irrigating verylarge areas.

paratus isl quitesimple and inexpensive in construction- The wheelsupport means 35 each include a framework comprising an axle member 40to which are connected two converging frame members 141 and 142 whichsupport at the apex thereof a tubular member 143, all of these framemembers being preferably secured to one another as by welding or thelike to provide a rigid frame work. Riser 132 extends upwardly throughthe hollow bore provided in tubular member 143. Riser 132 preferablylits snugly within tubular member 143 and may either be slidablydisposed therewithin or suitably fixed therewithin if desired.

A pair of wheels 146 and 147 are rotatably supported at the oppositeends of axle member Mii, and it will be seen. from an inspection ofFIGS. 6 and 7 that the over-all arrangement is such that wheels 146 willreadily permit the water distribution means in the form of the sprinklermechanism to be moved along relative to the ground while at the sametime serving to properly position the sprinkler means so that the riserextends substantially vertically upwardly at all times. lt is apparentthat the Wheeled support means 35 will prevent the sprinkler fromtipping over and falling to the ground and will ensure that it is in itsupright proper operative position throughout movement of the sprinklermeans toward the reel means during operation.

Not only does the wheeled support means ensure that the sprinkler meansis in operative position at all times, but the guide wheels 46 and 147ensure that the hose and the associated sprinklers will properly trackalong substantially straight lines as the reel tends to move thesecomponents inwardly when driven.

In operation, water is normally supplied from the underground conduitthrough pipe 4l to the iilter means 4d, thence through pipe 43, tubeSii, elbow 65, pipe 66, conduit 7d and conduit S5 to the hose 3l) fromwhence the water is distributed to the sprinklers i255. The sprinklersand the wheeled support means are initially positioned remotely from thereels as shown in FIG. l, and upon initiation of the system, theautomatic timer liti will cause the driving motor 2S to periodicallyrotate the reel and reel in the hose and the movable support means.

While this is occurring, water is constantly being distributed overV.the entire area as will be clear from the forego-ing discussion. Whenthe sprinklers have been moved inwardly to a point adjacent the centralportion of lthe field, the wheeled support means will then be moved onthe opposite sides of the central portion of the field from that shown,and the iiexible hose unwound from the reel until the sprinklerswillagain be spaced the desired distance from the central portion of theiield whereupon the system can again be initiated to automatically movethe sprinklers inwardly as aforedescribed. To give an idea of the areawhich may be covered with such a system, the length of the hose whenunreeled may be up to 1500 feet, while the iiex-ible hoses and theirassociated reels may be Vspaced from 5() to 75 feet from one anotherdepending on the water pressure and `size of the sprinklers.

It is noted that when carrying out the method of the present invention,a multiplicity of sprinklers can be advanced substantiallysimultaneously along substantially parallel paths, the sprinklers Ibeingadvanced in an intermittent manner so as to completely irrigate a verylarge area.

It is apparent from the foregoing that there is provided new and novelapparatus and method for irrigation which is completely automatic inoperation andV which is es- The apand yet is quite efcient and reliablein operation.

As this invention may be embodied in -several forms without departingfrom the spirit or .essen-tial' characteristics thereof, the presentembodiment is therefore illustrative andV not restrictive, and since thescope of the invention :is defined by the appended claims, all changesthat fall, within the metes and bounds of the claims or that arsofseoform their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents aretherefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

I claim:

1. irrigation apparatus comprising frame means, a reel rotatably`supported by said frame means, said reel including a centrallongitudinally extending conduit, means for supplying water to saidlongitudinally extending conduit, said reel means including a radiallyextending conduit in communication with said longitudinally extendingconduit, a flexible hose having one end portion thereof connected withsaid radially extending conduit ior receiving water therefrom, powerdriving means operatively connected with said reel means for rotatingsaid reel means, and automatic timer means operatively connected withsaid power driving means for initiating and terminating operation ofsaid power driving means so as to drive said reel means at a.predetermined speed and at predetermined time intervals, sprinklermeans connected with said flexible hose for distributing Water passingthrough said hose, and support means operatively associated with saidsprinkler means for supporting `and maintaining said sprinkler means inoperative position, said support means including a framework supportedon a plurality of wheels for ready movement over the ground.

2. Apparatus as delned in claim l, wherein said means for supplyingwater to said longitudinally extending conduit includes means forfiltering out foreign matter from water fed through the apparatus 4tosaid sprinkler means.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim l, wherein said means for supplyingwater to said longitudinally extending conduit includes a xed conduitmeans operatively connected with said longitudinally extending conduitby means of a hydraulic coupling means.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said sprinkler means issupported at the upper end of a sprinkler riser, the lower end of whichis operatively connected to said flexible hose, the framework of saidsupport means engaging and supporting a portion of said riser.

5. Irrigation apparatus comprising a frame including a base member,upwardly extending support members being supported by said base member,bearing support means mounted at the upper ends of said support members,an elongated hollow conduit being rotatably supported in said bearingsupport means, pipe means for supplying Water to the interior of saidelongated conduit, and ilter means connected in said pipe means foriltering all or" the water passing through said pipe means into saidconduit, reel means fixed to s id conduit and including a sub stantiallycylindrical central portion for supporting a ilexible hose thereon, saidreel means including members at the opposite ends thereof for limitinglateral movement ot the hose supported on the central portion or thereel means, a radially extending conduit being hollow and beingconnected at its inner end with said first mentioned conduit, a flexiblehose wrapped about the central portion oi said reel means, one end ofsaid flexible hose being connected with the outer' end of said radiallyextending conduit for receiving water therefrom, power operated drivingmeans drivingly connected with said iirst mentioned conduit for rotatingsaid conduit and said reel means for wrapping said iexible hose aboutsaid reel means, timer means operatively connected with said drivingmeans for energizing and de-energizing said driving means atpredetermined time intervals, the opposite end of said ilexible hosebeing connected with a tting, a riser also being connected with saidfitting and extending substantially vertically therefrom, a sprinklersecured to the upper end of said riser, a wheeled support means forsupporting said riser, said wheeled support means including a frameworkincluding an axial member having a pair of wheels rotatably supported atopposite ends thereof, said framework including members extendinglaterally from said axle member toward said reel means and spaced aboveand substantially parallel with the ground, said laterally extendingframe members including means at the outer ends thereof connected withsaid riser for supporting said riser in operative position such that theriser and the attached sprinkler can be moved along relative to theground in proper position with the riser extending substantiallyvertically upwardly at all times.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS2,226,668 Newman Dec. 31, 1940 2,518,990 Keener Aug. l5, 1950 2,602,696Salatin luly 8, i952 2,756,098 Rottcher July 24, 1956 2,801,132 ShuckJuly 3Q, 1957 2,880,948 Leuenberger J une 9, i959 2,918,860 Ford Dec.29, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 338,880 France Mar. l, 1903

1. IRRIGATION APPARATUS COMPRISING FRAME MEANS, A REEL ROTATABLYSUPPORTED BY SAID FRAME MEANS, SAID REEL INCLUDING A CENTRALLONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING CONDUIT, MEANS FOR SUPPLYING WATER TO SAIDLONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING CONDUIT, SAID REEL MEANS INCLUDING A RADIALLYEXTENDING CONDUIT IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDINGCONDUIT, A FLEXIBLE HOSE HAVING ONE END PORTION THEREOF CONNECTED WITHSAID RADIALLY EXTENDING CONDUIT FOR RECEIVING WATER THEREFROM, POWERDRIVING MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH SAID REEL MEANS FOR ROTATINGSAID REEL MEANS, AND AUTOMATIC TIMER MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITHSAID POWER DRIVING MEANS FOR INITIATING AND TERMINATING OPERATION OFSAID POWER DRIVING MEANS SO AS TO DRIVE SAID REEL MEANS AT APREDETERMINED SPEED AND AT PREDETERMINED TIME INTERVALS, SPRINKLER MEANSCONNECTED WITH SAID FLEXIBLE HOSE FOR DISTRIBUTING WATER PASSING THROUGHSAID HOSE, AND SUPPORT MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID SPRINKLERMEANS FOR SUPPORTING AND MAINTAINING SAID SPRINKLER MEANS IN OPERATIVEPOSITION, SAID SUPPORT MEANS INCLUDING A FRAMEWORK SUPPORTED ON APLURALITY OF WHEELS FOR READY MOVEMENT OVER THE GROUND.